The Trump administration on Wednesday ordered leaders in the federal government to begin to prepare for major layoffs and restructuring.
A memo from Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and Office of Personnel Management Acting Director Charles Ezell directed the heads of departments and agencies to develop “reductions in force” and “agency reorganization” plans, due no later than March 13, 2025.
The 7-page memo provides guidance on how to create such plans, collectively referred to as Agency RIF and Reorganization Plans, or ARRP. Among other things, officials are advised to make “a significant reduction” in the number of federal workers by eliminating positions that are not mandated by statute; removing underperforming employees; allowing temporary positions to expire; and renegotiating “provisions of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) that would inhibit enhanced government efficiency and employee accountability.” They are also directed to reduce property holdings and overall budgets.
The White House also asked for a second set of reports from agency heads, due April 14, providing “a positive vision for more productive, efficient agency operations going forward.” Those reports are to include organization charts, job descriptions and performance reports, as well as suggestions for moving federal offices out of Washington.
The memo says the hiring freeze put in place via presidential memorandum in January is still in effect, as is the general rule going forward that any new hires would require four positions to be eliminated. The memo also provides a list of exclusions, including positions in law enforcement, border security, the military and the U.S. Postal Service.
Make way for DOGE: It appears that Elon Musk and his DOGE teams nestled throughout the government are playing a key role in the effort. The memo directs agency heads to “collaborate with their Department of Government Efficiency (‘DOGE’) team leads within the agency in developing competitive areas for ARRPs.”
There are indications that the layoffs and restructurings will be significant. The Washington Post reports that leaders at the Social Security Administration are under orders to reduce their staff by half, while the Labor Department is looking for a 90% reduction.
Max Stier of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan group that advocates for a stronger federal government, told the Post that the new plans suggest that the White House is seeking to fundamentally transform the nature of the federal government. “They are setting the groundwork for a much more scaled attack on the federal workforce,” he said. “It seems like they are using this to reshape the purpose of the government rather than execute it more efficiently.”